Chapter 26
Disclaimer: I own the Davies/Dennison/Carlin kids and Star…and the plot but that's it.
Spencer POV
When Ashton walked in I don't expect what happened tonight or today for that matter. It was supposed to be a fun, relaxing, and normal day…. Well as normal as you can get around here that is.
"So where do you suppose she's going to stay?" Adam asked. Ashton winked at her mother and me before turning to her brother.
"Your room of course." She said in a dead serious voice. Adam just looks at her in silent shock before abruptly throwing his head back and laughing. Ashton just stares at him with a blank indifferent expression until he stops his chuckling and looks up at her.
"You are kidding. Right?" She just keeps staring at him. This causes his face to go a scarlet color and he crosses his arms over his chest and sneers at the dark haired teen.
"Oooooh hell no. If you think that, that… girl is staying in my room then you are completely fucking crazy, because I will not I repeat will not-" Ashton, not being able to hold it in any longer, burst out laughing and waving her arms at him in a 'shut up' gesture.
"Geez calm down man… Don't blow a fuse. I was just fuckin' with ya." The young Davies chokes out between snickers. Gaby shakes her head in exasperation but has a ghost of a smile playing on her lips.
"Then where is she going to stay?" He asks again, calming down slightly, shaking his head at the still laughing teen.
"We do live in a mansion. She can stay in a guest room. Can't she?" Ashton looks over at Ash with a questioning look. Ashley's quiet then slowly shakes her head.
"Yeah she can stay down in one of the down stairs bedrooms."
"Okay. Thanks for, um, understanding." Ashton said giving her mom a sad but grateful smile.
"Don't make me regret it."
"I won't. I promise." Ashton responding wrapping her arm around Gabs.
"Good."
Every time we lie awake
After every hit we take
Every feeling that I get
But I haven't missed you yet-
We all turn to the source of the music just as Ashton is pulling out her cell phone.
"Hello. Yeah I'm just in the house here. No just stay in the car till I come out okay. Alright I'll be out in a sec. Okay bye." She hung up and turned to Gaby.
"Hey I think I gotta go. Your brothers may have to take you to school tomorrow but I'll come by after you get out." She gently before giving her hand a soft kiss.
"Okay. But you have to text when you make it home alright." Gaby demands with a loving smile.
"Yes Ma'am." Ashton said giving her a salute. Gaby laughs at her before pulling her into a kiss.
"Go on you goof." She giggles. This two are so cute.
"I'll meet you two at home?" Ashton asks the other Davies. Adam nods at her and Ashley just waves her hand at the door.
"We will meet you there. Don't go running off or anything before I get there. I want to talk to you."
"Where am I going to go Ma?" Ashton asks raising her eyebrows in question.
"I mean don't go in the garage or to bed or something. Just stay in the living room or something."
"Sure thing Ma. I'll probably be in the shower when you get home so you might have to look for me there." The emerald eyed youth said starting out the door.
"Bye Ashton." I say waving slightly at her.
"Bye Spencer. Good night Gabs"
"Bye Ash." They share another kiss and Ashton walks out the door. Moments later I hear her Mustang fire up and then it gradually quieted.
"It's late. I guess I'm gonna to head up for bed. 'Night guys. Love you Mom." Gaby say heading up the stairs after throwing a wave at us.
"Good night Gabs." We three of us call after her retreating figure.
"Love you too Gaby." I call to her as she takes the corner. Hmm she was acting as though this isn't bothering her but I know her better than that. Perhaps I should go talk to her.
"I'm gonna go, um, wait in the car." Adam says sneaking out the front door. Ash just nods her head at her son.
"I'll be out in a second." Adam nods and skips out the door. As soon as the door clicks shut Ashley pulls me in her arms.
"Spencer do you think I'm a bad mom. First I absorb myself into my work. Then I get so to where I don't even notice when one of my own kids is going through hell. I shoulda seen the signs. I should have been there for her for all my kids. I mean I know I wasn't the only one hurting but-" Her sobbing her words into my neck breaks my so I cut her off with a comforting kiss.
"Ashley Davies. You are not a bad mother. You whole life got turned upside down. I mean, first you suddenly became a single mom with four young kids. You also lost someone you thought loved you have to go through a divorce. Then, to top it off, you now have to keep you company a float till you can find a replacement for a couple major spots… I'm sure your kids can understand that."
"Thank you Spence. But what am I going to do? I mean all of this is just happen so fast. I don't know how to keep up or what's going to come of it" I wrap my arms around her neck and lay my forehead against hers.
"It's going to be okay Babe. You're not alone anymore. I'm here. I'll always be here be help you if you need it." She tightens her arms around me and buries her face into my neck pressing soft kisses along it.
"I'll always need it. Need you." She mumbles against my neck.
"Same here Ash." I say pulling slowly away and looking into her whiskey eyes kissing her nose.
"It's gonna be fine just listen to what Ashton has to say and try not to be too insensitive to Star when you meet her again. Okay?" I say gently placing another kiss to her small nose.
"I can't promise anything. Ashton is my daughter and what she put Ash through is not going to go forgotten." She says with resentment.
"I did say it should. All I'm saying is try. For some reason Ashton has the thoughts that she has the take and in and care for her. So all I'm saying is that you should try to keep it in check. For Ashton. Okay?"
"Fine. I'll try but I will keep my eye peeled for any trouble the girl could dish out." I smile at her suspicious expression and laugh softly.
"Good." She smiles at me and gives me a long but chaste kiss but for heading for the door.
"I don't know if I'll be at work tomorrow but I'll call you okay." She says while opening the door.
"Okay. Love you Ash." She gives me a big nose crinkling smile.
"Love you too Spence." With that she closed the oak door. I walk to the window and watch till her car is out of sight. I close the curtain and head up stairs to Gaby's room. When I get to the top I notice her bedroom light on.
"Gaby? Can I come in please?" I call gently through her closed door.
I when I hear a muffled "yeah" from the other side I slowly open the door reveal Gaby clad in red plaid night pants and a white t-shirt lying on her bed.
"Hey kiddo. Are you alright?" I ask stretching out beside her.
"What shouldn't I be?" I just give her my 'you know why' look and she sighs.
"I don't like that that girl is going to be so close to Ash. I don't like it at all." She mutters looking up at me with pleading eyes.
"I feel the same but Ashton knows what's she is doing and so does Ashley so you don't need to worry." I tell her while moving a dirty blonde curl from her face.
"I know. I trust Ash it's just I'm not comfortable with Ashton's ex living with her again." I know the feeling kiddo.
"I know how you feel but like you just said she trust Ash right."
"Right." She says more confidence.
"Then you have nothing to worry about… Plus she loves you. I can see that." She smiles softly.
"I know she does." She says affectionately.
"See? Nothing to worry about." She laughs softly at me.
"Thanks Mom." She says while pulling me into a tight hug.
"Welcome Gaby." I wrap my arms around my only daughter and hug her to me before reaching over to kill the lights. It's been awhile since one of my kids cuddled up to me. It makes me feel like I have my babies back.
Right now I think everything will be alright.
Ashley POV
When I close Spence's door I walk to my Porsche to find it started, radio blasting, and to air running. Even at night the LA heat can get to you. I have to slam my door to get Adam's attention, he all rocking out to BuckCherry's Crazy Bitch.
I love this song. It's inappropriate but who cares! Not me!
"Shit! You scared me!" Adam said turning down the radio with one hand and holding his chest with the other. I snicker and put the car into gear.
"Sorry Adam. I didn't mean to." I tell him teasingly.
"Yeah… Well." He grumbles to himself. I shake my head at him and giggle.
"So... I'm guessing you know about Ash and Gabs."
"Yeah. We found out not to long ago. How long have you known?" I ask curiously.
"Since the beginning. I know something was going on and boy was I right. I'm good!" he exclaims the last part excitedly. I just laugh and nod at him.
"No you just love to nose around in other people's business." I inform him lightly. He just shrugs his shoulders.
"I am related to Aunt Kyla y'know." I laugh. Its true Kyla does the same thing.
"True." I agree.
"Okay here comes some more nosiness okay." I nod at him to continue.
"Are you and Ms. Carlin… y'know." He clasps his hands together. Oh Shit.
"Why would you think that?" I ask trying to avoid the question.
"Because you two seem really close, like closer than normal friends." This boy sees to make for his own well-being.
"You have to promise not to tell." I warn him. He pretends to zip and lock his lips before throwing away his imaginary key.
"Yes... Spence and I are dating." I confess.
"Oh my God! Do Ashton and Gaby know? How long? When? How? Why? Where?" He asks speedily, look panicked.
"Whoa there fido. Um, yes. They know for a few days. Spence and I got together about a week ago. How? It…just happened. When? Does it matter?" He is sitting in shock but snaps out of it when I roughly shake his arm.
"But you guys are like... y'know daughter with daughter and mother with mother."
"I know this Adam."
"But-" He starts again.
"Drop it Adam." I tell him warningly. He looks like he wants to ignore me but I give him my 'don't do it' mother look and he lets it go. It's silent the rest of the ride. I look over at Adam a few times just to see him staring out the window, his back towards me.
I know what Spencer, Gaby, Ashton, and I are doing is odd and unusual but it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I need to worry about that right now. I have to focus on Star and how I'm going to do this. When I pull into the garage and I shut off the Porsche I put my hand on my youngest boy shoulder.
"Adam? I'm sorry. It's just an odd subject that none of us have talked about yet. Okay?"
"I understand Ma. It's none of my business anyway. As long as ya'll are happy it shouldn't matter." I smile gratefully at him.
"Thanks son." I lean over and ruffle his long coal black hair. He laughs and pushes my hand away from him.
"Ma!" He whines at me trying to re-fix his now messy hair. I just laugh and climb out of the car.
"Go on and take a shower and go to bed. You have school tomorrow." He groans at me but does as he's told and marches in to the house. I shortly follow after him.
"Night ma."
"Night kid." I say before poking my head into the living room just to find it empty. She did say she might be in the shower. I head up the stair and up the tower steps till I reach Ashton's closed door.
"Can I come in?" I ask opening the door slightly to peak in.
"Sure." Ashton's raspy voice says from her bathroom doorway. She looks as though she just got out of the shower. Her hair looks damp and she is only wearing her boxers and bra. This kid really is mine.
"Hey." I say as I enter the room and throw myself on her huge bed.
"Hey." She chuckles at me before tossing on a black wife beater and joining me on the king size bed.
"Where's Star?" I ask turning on my stomach; trying to get comfy.
"Asleep down stairs. She passed out again before we even got here so I just carried her to a random room like you said." I nod my head. This is a good start. She listened to me.
"Good. I, um, I want to set a few ground rules okay?'" She nods her head, "Right. First I don't care if she is over eighteen she is to follow all of our house rules," another nod, "Second if she goes out I don't want her going to any parties or clubs if she don't like it too bad," I receive another nod, "Other than that all she has to do is find something constructive to do to help around the house and listen to us old people."
"I'm sure she can handle all that." She tells me with a smirk.
"Good. Than we won't have a problem now will we?" I ask playfully. She smiles and shakes her head.
"Wait," she looks kinda worried now, "Does Aunt Kyla and Uncle Aiden know?"
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shiiiit. this might be my house but when Kyla is visiting it turns into hers so how. It's annoying really.
"I'll take your expression as a "No"." Ashton says. I just look at her and roll my eyes.
Yay! I know what I'm doing tomorrow.
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